Ceiling construction



6 Sheets-Sheet 1 M. L. LYDARD CEILING CONSTRUCTION April 16, 1963 Filed Nov.

April 16, 1963 M. L. LYDARD CEILING CONSTRUCTION 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. l2. 1958 IOrl O fo ngbwhut 9. 215 lo a liga I 9 April 16, 1963 M. L. LYDARD 3,085,666

CEILING CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. l2, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 April 16, 1963 M. l.. LYDARD CEILING CONSTRUCTION 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 12. 195B April 16, 1963 M. L. LYDARD 3,085,666

CEILING CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 12. 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 April 16, 1963 M. l.. LYDARD 3,085,666

CEILING CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 12, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 United States Patent Olilice 3,085,666 Patented Apr. 16, 1963 3,085,666 CEILING CONSTRUCTION Martin L. Lydard, Baltimore, Md., assignor to The Eastern Products Corporation, Baltimore, Md., a corporation of Maryland Filed Nov. 12, 1953, Ser. No. 773,469 8 Claims. (Cl. 139-86) This invention relates to building construction and more particularly to such construction of the type commonly employed in the fabrication and installation of ceilings which are suspended from an overhead structure.

In the construction of ceilings of the type commonly used in large oflice and industrial buildings, etc., it is frequently desirable to fabricate certain portions of the ceiling at a remote factory location and to install the ceiling at the premises by suspending it from a primary ceiling member such as an overhead floor structure or a metal or wooden beam. Heretofore, difficulties have been encountered in the manufacture of such ceilings and in the suspension thereof from an existing overhead structure, with the result that this fabrication and installation was a costly and time consuming process. Additionally, the means employed for maintaining the various sections of a ceiling of this type in proper relation to each other and to the supporting floor or wall structure has proved deficient in several respects. Furthermore, and this has been of special moment in cases where overhead pipes or ducts are concealed above the ceiling, it has been found to be difficult to gain ready access to the area above the ceiling for maintenance purposes, etc.

One general object of this invention, therefore, is to provide an improved building construction of the type commonly employed in the fabrication and installation of ceilings which are suspended from an overhead structure.

More specifically. it is an object of this invention to facilitate the manufacture and installation of a ceiling of the above type.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide a ceiling section which is readily removable for the purpose of gaining access to the area above the ceiling.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a ceiling construction utilizing comparatively simple mechanical components which is economical to manufacture and thoroughly reliable in installation.

In one illustrative embodiment of this invention, a ceiling construction comprises a plurality of elongated channel members which are positioned side by side in abutting relation to each other and in end to end relation, means for maintaining the channel members in abutting relation and in end to end relation, and a hanger for suspending the channel members from a primary ceiling member. In accordance with one feature of this invention. the abutting channel members are made of uniform cross-section and have side flanges which are of a conguration such that they may be positioned in detachably interlocking relation with each other and may be firmly maintained in this interlocking relation by fastening means of particular design. In this manner the channel members may be quickly and easily fabricated at a remote factory location, and installation thereof is greatly facilitilted.

In accordance with another feature of this invention, the aforementioned hanger is constructed with a hooklike portion thereof extending in an angular direction with respect to the plane of the ceiling and thus assists not only in supporting the ceiling but also in maintaining the ceiling sections in abutting relationship with each other. The design of the various hangers is such that the ceiling may be supported either from metal or wooden beams or from a flat overhead surface.

In accordance with a further feature of this invention, a ceiling section is provided with a lock thereon that can be opened or closed by rotation of a small slotted bolt on the accessible side of the installed ceiling. Thus, the section may be quickly removed to permit access to the space above the ceiling.

The above noted as well as further objects and features of this invention will be understood more clearly and fully from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE l is a bottom plan view of a ceiling construction, partially broken away for convenience, which is illustrative of certain features of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2 2 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3 3 in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 4 is a bottom plan view of a ceiling construction, partially broken away for convenience, which is illustrative of certain other features of the preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5--5 in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6--6 of FIGURE 4 which is illustrative of a locking means useful in connection with the invention;

FIGURES 7 and 8 are fragmentary detail views of the locking means shown in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 9 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of a ceiling, partially broken away for convenience, which discloses one type of clip means that may be used in connection with the invention;

FIGURE 10 is a top plan view of the ceiling portion shown in FIGURE 9 after the clip means has been installed;

FIGURE ll is a sectional view taken along the line 11-11 in FIGURE l0;

FIGURE 12 is a sectional view taken along the line 12-12 in FIGURE 1l;

FIGURE 13 is a perspective view of the clip means shown in FIGURE 9;

IGURE 14 is a perspective view of a portion of a Ceiling, partially broken away for convenience, which is illustrative of one 'type of hanger that can be used in connection with the invention;

FIGURE l5 is a top View of the hanger shown in FIG- URE i4;

FIGURE 16 is a front view of the hanger shown in FIGURE 14;

FIGURE 17 is a side view of the hanger shown in FIGURE 14;

FIGURE 18 is a perspective view of a portion of a ceiling, partially broken away for convenience, which is illustrative of another type of clip means that can be used in connection with the invention;

FIGURE 19 is a sectional view taken along the line 19-19 in FIGURE 18;

FIGURE 2() is a perspective view of the clip means illustrated in FIGURE 18;

FIGURE 2l is a perspective view of a portion of a ceiling, partially broken away for convenience, embodying another type of hanger that may be used in connection with the invention;

FIGURE 22 is a perspective view of the hanger shown in FIGURE 2l before installation;

FIGURES 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27 are perspective views of various other hangers that are useful in connection with the invention;

FIGURE 28 is a perspective fragmentary view of a portion of a ceiling illustrative of another type of clip means that may be used in connection with the invention;

FIGURE 29 is a perspective view of the clip means illustrated in FIGURE 28;

FIGURE 30 is a perspective fragmentary view of a section of a ceiling constructed in accordance with the invention which is illustrative of a means that can be used for maintaining the ceiling in rigid relation with the supporting structure;

FIGURE 31 is a top plan view of a section of a ceiling constructed in accordance with the invention which depicts a device useful in connection with the installation of sound absorbing or insulating material; and

FIGURE 32 is a perspective view, partially broken away for convenience, of the device shown in FIGURE 3l.

Referring initially to FIGURES 1 through 3 of the drawings, a plurality of elongated channel members are disposed in juxtaposition to each other and extend in a vertical direction as viewed in FIGURE 1. Channel members 10 are provided with a series of equally spaced cross scores 11 thereon for the purpose of providing lateral stability and to form a square or rectangular pattern for enhancing the appearance of the ceiling. Additionally, channel members 10 contain perforations 12 therein. The channel members 10 are supported by means of hangers 13 which depend from a primary ceiling member such as the metal beam 14 of C-shaped crosssection. The beam 14 is affixed to an overhead floor or other structure by means of tie rods 15, wires or other means, which may be imbedded in an overhead Iioor of concrete or similar material or which may be otherwise affixed to the overhead structure. Additionally, C-shaped beams 16 conveniently may be used on interior side walls 17 of a building in order to accommodate the portions of channel members 10 adjacent thereto, as will be subsequently described.

Each of the elongated channel members 10 includes a horizontally disposed body surface 18 and is provided with an upstanding ange 19 along one longitudinal side thereof and an upstanding flange 20 along the other longitudinal side thereof. A ledge 21 is disposed on the body surface 18 adjacent the llange 19 of channel member 10 and extends upwardly at an angle with respect to surface 18, as viewed in FIGURE 2. The body surface 18 is additionally provided with a notch or fold 22 thereon which is positioned adjacent the upstanding ange 20 and which has a cross-section in the shape of an inverted V having the outer leg thereof shorter than the inner leg. This shorter leg of the cross-section of fold 22 extends in a plane that is substantially parallel to the plane formed by the ledge 21 on surface 18 adjacent the ange 19. Flange 19 in-cludes an upper portion 23 which is bent inwardly and extends in a downward direction at an angle with respect to the body surface 18. An upper portion 24 of flange 20 is bent inwardly in a manner similar to that of the upper portion 23 of flange 19. The channel members 10 are preferably formed from a single piece of sheet metal, in which case the flanges 19 and 2() are bent upwardly from the body surface 18, and the portion of body surface 18 adjacent the flange 19 is bent back upon itself to form the ledge 21. However, if desired, the ledge 21 may be fabricated from a separate piece of material and welded or otherwise affixed to the channel members 10.

The side ange 19 of a particular channel member 10 is adapted to engage the side Harige 20 of an adjacent channel member 10. The outer leg of the fold 22 on the adjacent channel member is positioned on the upper surface of the ledge 21 of the first-mentioned channel member, and the anges 19 and 20 are thus disposed in abutting, interlocking relationship with each other and are prevented from any substantial movement transverse to their longitudinal direction by means of the angular configuration of ledge 21 and fold 22.

In order to improve the acoustical or insulating qualities of the ceiling, sound absorptive or insulating material 25 is positioned in the unexposed surface area of an installed ceiling above the channel members 10 and may be spaced from the body surface 18 by means of spacers 26, as shown in detail in FIGURES 31 and 32. Spacers 26 are provided with projections 27 and 2S thereon which are inserted into the undersurface of the material 25 to maintain spacers 26 in rigid relationship with respect thereto. With many types of sound absorptive or insulating material, the spacers 26 will not be needed.

The channel members 10 may be suspended from the beam 14 by means of the hangers 13, as more clearly shown in FIGURES 21 and 22 of the drawings. Each of the hangers 13 includes a hook 29 at the lower end thereof which extends upwardly in an angular direction with respect to the horizontal and which is adapted to accommodate either the upper portion 23 of flange 19 or the upper portion 24 of flange 20. The hanger 13 is provided with a strengthening rib 30 on the central portion thereof, and in addition has perforations 31 and 32 thereon, the perforation 32 being employed for the purpose of weakening the material and thereby permitting the formation of a right angle fold 34 which forms a flap 36. A right angle fold 33 forms a flap 35. The perforation 31 is contained within the flap 35 and may be employed to accommodate a bolt, nail or other fastening device should it be anvantageous or desirable to rigidly secure hanger 13 to the beam 14 or to another type of overhead structure. Hanger 13 is additionally provided with a pair of supporting legs 37 and 38 which extend outwardly from the main portion of hanger 13 in a direction parallel to that of the tlap 36.

As shown in FIGURE 3, each of the anges 19 and 20 is provided with a plurality of elongated apertures 39 and 40 which are disposed in spaced relationship with each other and are placed in paired intervals along the upstanding portions of the anges 19 and 20. The apertures 39 and 4t) of anges 19 and 20 are adapted to accommodate tongues 41 and 42 of a clip or splice 43, as shown in detail in FIGURES 18 through 20 of the drawings. In the illustrated embodiment the tongues 41 and 42 are cut from the central portion of splice 43, are bent outwardly therefrom and have performations 44 and 45 thereon for the purpose of weakening the material and thereby increasing the closing or tightening effect of tongues 41 and 42. After insertion in apertures 39 and 40 adjacent the ends of end to end pairs of abutting channel members 10, the tongues 41 and 42 are bent inwardly, as shown by the dotted lines in FIGURES 19 and 20, to tirrnly maintain anges 19 and 20 of the channel members 10 in a side by side relationship and in an end to end relationship, as will be subsequently described. The splice 43 is additionally provided with a portion 46 on the upper edge thereof which is bent over and is substantially coextensive with the upper portion 24 of llange 20 for aligning purposes. The splice 43 also includes a strengthening rib 47 adjacent the lower edge thereof and includes a cut-away portion 48 for the purpose of accommodating abutting ends 49 of the end to end channel members 10.

Referring now to FIGURES 4 through 7 of the drawings, there are shown two additional channel members 10a and 10b that are useful in connection with the invention. The channel member 10a (FIGURE 5) includes upstanding flanges 19 along each longitudinal side thereof and also includes a horizontally disposed body surface 18a. Ledges 21 extend outwardly at an angle with respect to the body surface 18a adjacent each of the side anges 19. Each of the side flanges 19 of the channel member 10a is adapted to be positioned in juxtaposition with a side Ilange 2O of a channel member 10 disposed on either side of member 10a. The ledges 21 on body surface 18H accommodate the folds 22 on the body surfaces 18 of, each of the adjacent channel members 10 in a manner similar to that described heretofore.

The channel member b is shown most clearly in FIGURE 6. This channel member is similar in construction to the channel members 10 described above in that it includes the opstanding flange 2t) and the fold 22. along one longitudinal side thereof and the opstanding 'flange 19 and the ledge 2.1 along the other longitudinal side thereof. However, as shown in FGURE `6, channel member 10b includes an aperture 50 which is disposed adjacent the flange 19 in a body surface 18h. For some applications, the upper portion 23 of the flange 19 of channel member 10b may be removed.

Aperture Si) of channel member 10b accommodates a portion of a lock 5l that may be employed for the purpose of permitting access to an unexposed area above an installed ceiling. The lock S1 includes an upstanding member 52 which extends upwardly from the unexposed surface of the channel member 10b and includes a slotted bolt head 53 on the exposed surface of channel member 10b which extends through aperture 50 and is rigidly affixed to a lower horizontal portion 54 of the upstanding member 52. The lock 51 is adaptable for rotation through a 90 arc and to this end is provided with stops 55 and 56. The stop 55 extends upwardly from the lower horizontal portion 54 of member 52 and is adapted to abut against the flange 19 when the lock 51 is rotated to its unlocked position, as indicated by the arrow in FlGURE 7. Stop 56, on the other hand, extends from the main upstanding portion of the member 52 and is adapted to abut flange 19 when the lock 51 is in its locked position.

r[he upstanding member 52 of lock S1 is provided with an upper horizontal portion S7 which extends in a direction opposite to that of the lower horizontal portion 54 and is adapted to contact the upper portion 24 of flange Ztl when the lock 51 is in its locked position, as shown in the drawings. Upper portion 57 includes an angularly depending section S8 and serves to firmly maintain abuting flanges 19 and 20 in rigid relation to each other when the Ioc'ft 51 is in its locked position. For many applications, the angularly depending section 58 may be omitted from the portion 57 without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

In order to effect a particular ceiling installation from a primary ceiling member, such as the beam 14, beams are initially affixed to the four building walls 17, as shown in FlGURE l. The channel member 10a (FIG- URE 5) is suspended from the central portion of beam 14 by means of the hangers 13 or other hanging means that will be described hereinafter. The hook 29 on hanger 13 is positioned on the underside of the upper portion 23 of either flange 19 of channel member 10a and is substantially coextensive therewith. Legs 37 and 38 of hanger 13 (FIGURE 2l) are placed adjacent the under exterior surface of the beam 14 and the hanger 13 is bent along folds 33 and 34 to form flaps 35- and 36. The main body portion of `hanger 13 abuts the vertical exterior surface on one side of beam 14, while the flap 36 rests against the upper exterior surface thereof and the tlap 35 extends vertically along the other side of beam 14. Flap 36 and legs 37 and 3S thus cooperate to prevent substantial vertical movement of hanger 13 with respect to beam 14. and the main body portion of hanger 13 and the flap 35 cooperate to prevent substantial transverse movement of hanger 13 with respect to beam 14.

After channel member 10a has been installed, successive channel members 10 are suspended from each side of channel member 10a. The side flange 20 of a first channel member 10 is placed in abutting relationship with one of the side flanges 19 of the channel member 10a. The fold 22 of flange 20 is engaged by the ledge 21 of flange 19, and the flanges 19 and 20 are thus disposed in interlocking relationship with each other and are prevented `from any substantial movement transverse to their longitudinal direction by means of the angular configuration of ledge 21 and `fold 22.

Successive channel members 10 are similarly placed on either side of the channel member 10a to form a completed ceiling surface such as that illustrated in FIG- URE 4. Each channel member 10 is firmly supported from the beams 14 by means of hangers 13, and the hooks 29 of these hangers are positioned on the underside of either the upper portions 23 of flanges 19 or the upper portions 24 of flanges 20.

Should the channel members be of insufficient length to extend across the length of the proposed ceiling surface, as will usually be the case, the splice 43 may bc employed to mainitain the channel members in an end to end relationship. As shown in FIGURES 18 and 19, a second pair of side `by side channel members 10 is placed in end to end relation with an installed pair of side by side channel members 10. The tongue 41 of splice 43 is inserted in apertures 39 and 40 adjacent the ends of side by side flanges 2t) and 19, respectively, of the installed pair of channel members 10, and the tongue 42 is inserted in apertures 39 and 4l] adjacent the ends of side by side flanges 2i) and 19, respectively, of the second pair of channel members 10. The portion 46 of splice 43 is fitted beneath the upper portions 24 of end to end flanges 20. After insertion in apertures 39 and 4l), the tongues 41 and 42 are bent inwardly, and end to end channel members 10, as well as the side by side channel members 16 in each pair, are maintained in rigid relationship with each other.

In the event that the channel members 1n are of sufficient width so that the last channel members installed abut the walls 17 and in so doing present a smooth ceiling surface, the side flanges 19 of these last channel members 10 are inserted in the C-shaped recess of beams 16 along the side walls 17 of the building. as shown in FIGURE 2. However, as usually will be the case, the last channel members installed frequently will have a width greater than that necessary to ll the remaining ceiling space. In this latter instance, a portion of the body surface 18 including flange 19 of the last channel members 1i) to be installed is cut off by shears or other appropriate means to the required width. The remaining portion of the body surface 18 is inserted in the C-shaped recess of the beam 16, as shown in detail in FIGURE 30, where it is positioned on a longitudinal ledge 59a on the lower interior horizontal surface 59 of beam 16. In order to maintain the remaining portion of body surface 18 firmly in position, a spring member 6) is employed and is positioned between the remaining portion of body surface 18 and the upper interior horizontal surface 61 of beam 16. The surface 61 is provided with a raised portion 61a extending longitudinally thereof for the purpose of holding spring member 60 in place.

The above described ceiling installation is particularly advantageous in that it permits the installation of successive channel members l in two directions simultaneously, thereby reducing the amount of time required for a particular installation. However. if desired. the centrally disposed channel member 10u may be omitted from a ceiling installation for some applications. In a ceiling installation of this latter type (FlGURES l through 3) the side flange 19 of a first channel member 10 is posi tioned in the C-shaped recess of one of the beams 16 along the interior side wall 17 of the building and is suspended from overhead beams 14 by means of the hangers 13. Successive channel members 10 are likewise suspended from beams 14 and are positioned in side by side relationship and in end to end relationship in a manner similar to that described heretofore.

Should it be desirable to gain access to an unexposed arca of the installed ceiling, the lock 51 may be employed on the channel member ltlb adjacent the side flange 19 apt-15,666

thereof, as shown in FIGURES 6 and 7. Successive channel members 10 are installed, and a space is left between two of these channel members which is of sufficient width to accommodate channel member 10b. The channel member 10b is then placed in the space in abutting relationship with the two channel members 10, and the bolt head 53 is rotated 90 to the position shown in FIG- URES 6 and 7 by means of a hand tool such as a screwdriver. During rotation of the lock 51, the upper horizontal portion 57 of member 52 comes in contact with the upper portion 24 of flange 20 of one of the adjacent channel members 1l), and the channel member 10b is firmly held in position. Rotation of the lock 51 is arrested by means of stop 56. To gain access to the unexposed area above an installed ceiling, the bolt head 53 is rotated to its unlocked position where its motion is arrested by the stop 55. The channel member 10b may then be quickly and easily removed.

FIGURES 14, 15, 16 and 17 are illustrative of another type of hanger 62 that maybe used to support the u hook 64 and between the bend 67 and the hook 63,

respectively, thereby causing the hooks 63 and 64 to eX- tend outwardly with respect to the central portion 65.

The hanger 62 may be employed in place of the hanger 13 to suspend the channel members 10 from the beam 14,

in which case the hooks 63 and 64 are positioned beneath the upper portion 23 of flange 19 and the center portion 65 is placed on the upper exterior surface of beam 14, as shown in FIGURE 14.

FIGURE 23 is illustrative of another type of hanger 71 that may be used to suspend channel members 10 from an overhead rafter or beam 72 of wood or other similar material. Hanger 71 is affixed to the beam 72 by means of nails 73 and 74 and is provided with a hook 75 at the lower end thereof which has a configuration similar to that of the hook 29 of the hanger 13. Hook 75 extends in an angular direction with respect to the horizontal and is adapted to mate with upper portions 23 or 24 of flanges 19 or 20, respectively. If desired, a strengthening rib 76 may be employed on the hanger 71 to provide rigidity. Hanger 71 may also be utilized for the purpose of suspending the channel members 10 from the C-shaped beam 14 by means of a plate 77, as shown 1n FIGURE 24. Plate 77 is riveted or otherwise afiixed at one end thereof to the hanger 71, and the other end thereof is bifurcated to form two legs 78 and 79. Each of the legs 78 and 79 is bent at right angles along folds 80 and 81 in order that they may conform to the upper surface of the beam 14.

The hanger 71 together with the plate 77 is particularly advantageous should the space between the desired ceiling surface and the beam 14 be too great to effectively use either the hangers 13 or 62. The hook 75 of hanger 71 is positioned on the under surface of the upper portion 23 of ange 19 or on the under surface of the upper portion 24 of flange 2D. The legs 78 and 79 of plate 77 are bent to form folds and 31 and thus accommodate the beam 14 in a manner similar to that outlined heretofore with respect to the flaps 35 and 36 of hanger 13.

A hanger 82, as illustrated in FIGURE 25, is particularly advantageous for suspending channel members 1t) from a primary ceiling member where the available space between the desired ceiling surface and the beam 14 is insufficient to permit the use of the hangers 13, 62 and 71 described heretofore, such as adjacent a light fixture or building wall. Ilanger S2 has an angulurly depending Slot 83 therein which forms a hook 84 adjacent the lower portion of hanger 82 for the purpose of accommodating the upper portions 23 or 24 of flanges 19 or 20, respectively. The upper portion of hanger 82 is bent at a right :ingle to form a supporting ledge S5 which is adapted to rest on the upper surface of the beam 14 or other primary ceiling member and thereby maintain channel members 10 in their proper position.

Should a particular installation require the suspension of the channel members 1f) from a flat horizontal surface 86 as shown in FIGURE 26, an alternative hanger 87 may be employed for this purpose. The hanger S7 includes a hook till which depends from a horizontally disposed offset portion 83u and is cngngeable with the upper portions 23 or 24 of flanges 19 or 20, respectively. A nail 89 or other attaching means may be uscd to affix the hanger 87 to the horizontal surface 86.

Referring now to FIGURES 9 through 13 of the drawings, there is shown a clip 96 that is particularly useful in connection with the invenlion for the purpose of cooperating with the apertures 39 and lil and thereby firmly maintainingr adjacent channel members 19 in abutting relationship. The clip 9G includes tongues 91 and 92 thereon. The tongues 91 and 92 extend at right angles from cach end of the clip and include lower extensions 93 and 94. The extensions 93 and 94 are longer than the apertures 39 and litl, while the remaining portions of tongues 91 and 92 are substantially coextensive in cross section with apertures 39 and 4t). The upper portion of clip 99 is provided with a locking formation 95 thereon which includes spring ears 96 and 97. Ears 96 and 97 normally extend at an angle with respect to the central portion of locking formation 95. However, as shown by the dotted lines in FIGURE I3, they may bc iesiliently flexed into a position that is substantially coplanar with this central portion.

The clip 9U is of particular utility in maintaining adjacent channel members 10 in abutting, side by side relationship and in suspending the side iiange 19 of one adjacent channel member 10 from the side flange 20 of the other adjacent channel member 10 in situations where space considerations or other factors limit the use of the several hangers referred to heretofore. Thus, for example, the clip 99 is useful in connection with the installation of side by side channel members 10 adjacent the side wall 17 (FlGURE 2) of a particular ceiling. The channel member 1l) immediately adjacent the side wall 17 is installed, and the tongues 91 and 92 of clip 90 are inserted in corresponding apertures 39 and 40 in the flange 19 of a channel member 10 that is to be positioned in abutting relationship with the side flange 2t] of the installed channel membcr. Tongues 91 and 92 are firmly held in place by means of the lower extensions 93 and 94. Ears 96 and 97 of the locking formation 95 of clip 90 are flexed to their dotted line position (FIGURE i3), and the side flange 19 of the channel member 10 having clip 90 thereon is placed in abutting relationship with the side flange 2li of the installed channel member 10. As the ears 96 and 97 clear the upper portion 24 of flange 20, these ears spring to their full line position, as shown in the drawings, and cooperate with the ledge 21 of flange 19 to prevent substantial vertical movement of flange 20 with respect to flange 19. Although clip 90 has been described as useful in holding flange 19 of the channel member 10 having clip 90 thereon in interlocking relationship with flange 20 of the channel member 10 adjacent the building side wall 17, it will be readily apparent that clip 90 may be employed on channel menibers in other locations for other advantageous purposes without departing from the spirit or scope of the 1nvention.

In addition to the clip or splice 43 (FIGURE 18) and the clip 9i] (FIGURE 9), several other clip means are useful in connection with the invention for the purpose of cooperating with the apertures 59 and 40 and thus maintaining the channel members lll in rigid relationship with each other. One such clip means comprises the clip 98, as shown in detail in FIGURES 28 and 29, which has particular utility in holding the side flanges 19 and 20 of side by side channel members 10 in position and thereby insuring that the cross scores 11 (FIGURES l and 3) are in proper alignment. The clip 98 is slightly bowed adjacent the central portion thereof and has tongues 99 and lill! at each end which include outwardly bent portions 101 and 102. The clip 98 is fabricated from relatively ductile material, and tongues 99 and 100 thereof are adaptable for insertion in the apertures 39 and 40 of flanges 19 and Ztl of adjacent channel members 10. The outwardly bent portions 101 and 10?. serve to hold the clip 62, lirmly in position.

Although the clips 90 and 98 have been illustrated and described with respect to the maintaining of adjacent channel members solely in side by side relation and the splice 43 has been illustrated and described with respect to maintaining the channel members both in an end to end relation and in side by side relation, it will be readily apparent that for many applications the clips 90 and 98 and the splice 43 may be used interchangeably.

The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

What is claimed is:

l. A ceiling construction of the type which is suspended from a primary ceiling member, comprising a plurality of elongated channel members of uniform cross section disposed in side-to-side abutting relationship, each. of said channel members having a horizontal central portion and upwardly extending side flanges at each side of said central portion, said side flanges having a plurality of apertures therein and having inwardly directed hook-engageable projections at the upper ends thereof, said central portion having an angularly upwardly disposed ledge at one side thereof extending outwardly beyond the corresponding side llange at seid one side and having an upwardly disposed notch adjacent the other side thereof located inwardly of the corresponding side flange at said other side, said upwardly disposed ledge being in detachable interlocking contact with the notch of the adjacent channel member, and clip means having rst and second portions thereof extending through. respective mating ,j

ones of said apertures and having a third portion thereof in engagement with the hook-engagcable projection of one of said corresponding side flanges for maintaining side flanges of adjacent channel members in said interlocking Contact.

2. A ceiling construction of the type which is suspended from a primary ceiling member, comprising a plurality of elongated channel members of uniform cross section disposed in side-to-side abutting relationship, each of said channel members having a horizontal central portion and upwardly extending side flanges at each side of said central portion, said side flanges having a plurality of apertures therein and having inwardly directed hookcngageable projections at the upper ends thereof, said central portion having an angularly upwardly disposed projection at one side thereof extending beyond the corresponding side flange at said one side and having an upwardly disposed notch adjacent the other side thereof located inwardly of the corresponding side flange at said other side, said upwardly disposed projection being complemental to and in engagement with a portion of the notch of the adjacent channel member for detachably interlocking corresponding side flanges of said adjacent channel members in abutting relation with each other and for maintaining the central portions thereof in co- (lll planar registry with each other, and elongated clip means having portions adjacent each end thereof extending through the apertures of said corresponding side flanges and having an appendage extending from the central portion thereof and in engagement with the hook-engageable projection of one of said corresponding flanges for maintaining said corresponding flanges in said interlocking relation.

3. A ceiling construction of the type which is suspended from a primary ceiling member, comprising a plurality of elongated channel members of uniform cross section disposed in side-to-side abutting relationship, each of said channel members having a horizontal central portion and upwardly extending side flanges at each side of said central portion, said side flanges having a plurality of apertures therein and having inwardly directed hookengageable projections at the upper ends thereof, said central portion having an angularly upwardly disposed projection at one side thereof extending beyond the corresponding side tiange at said one side and having an upwardly disposed notch adjacent the other side thereof located inwardly of the corresponding side flange at said other side, said upwardly disposed projection being complemental to and in engagement with a portion of the f' notch of the adjacent channel member for detachably interlocking corresponding side flanges of said adjacent channel members in abutting relation with each other and for maintaining the central portions thereof in coplnnar registry with each other. and an elongated clip having locking portions at each end thereof extending through the apertures of said corresponding side flanges and having a pair of legs extending from the central portion thereof and in engagement with the hook-engageable projection of one of said corresponding anges for maintaining said corresponding flanges in said interlocking relation, each of said locking portions including a first section having a cross section substantially coextensive with one of said apertures and including a second section having: a cross section larger than said one aperture.

4. A ceiling construction of the type which is suspended from a primary ceiling member. comprising a plurality of elongated channel members of uniform cross section disposed in side-to-side abutting relationship and in cnd-to-end relationship. each of said channel members having a horizontal central portion lying in the plane of the exposed surface area of said ceiling and having upwardly extending side flanges at each side of said central portion, said side flanges having inwardly directed hookengageable projections at the upper ends thereof, said central portion having an upwardly disposed ledge at one side thereof extending beyond the corresponding side flange at said one side at an angle with respect to said plane and having an upwardly disposed notch adjacent the other side thereof located inwardly of the corresponding side flange at said other side, said upwardly disposed ledge being in supporting engagement with the notch of the adjacent channel member for detachably interlocking corresponding side llanges of said adjacent channel members in abutting relation with each other and for maintaining the central portions thereof in co-planar registry with each other, and clip means for maintaining said side flanges of adjacent channel members in said sidc-to-side interlocking relationship and in said end-toend relationship, said clip means having a first locking tongue extending through respective mating apertures in a first pair of said corresponding side anges arranged in side-to-side abutting relationship, a second locking tongue extending through respective mating apertures in a second pair of said corresponding side llanges arranged in sideto-sidc abutting relationship and arranged in end-to-end relationship with said first pair of side flanges and a projecting leg arranged to engage the hook-engageable projections of two of said side flanges arranged in end-to-end relationship.

5. A ceiling construction of the type which is suspended from a primary ceiling member, comprising a plurality of elongated channel members of uniform cross section disposed in side-to-side abutting relationship and in end-to-end relationship, each of said channel members having a horizontal central portion lying in the plane of the exposed surface arca of said ceiling and having upwardly extending side flanges at each side of said central portion, said side flanges having a plurality of apertures therein and having inwardly directed hook-engageable projections at the upper ends thereof, said central portion having an upwardly disposed ledge at one side thereof extending beyond the corresponding side flange at said one side at an angle with respect to said piane and having an upwardly disposed notch adjacent the other side thereof located inwardly of the corresponding side flange at said other side, said upwardly disposed ledge being complemental to and in supporting engagement with a portion of the notch of the adjacent channel member for dctachably interlocking corresponding side flanges of said adjacent channel members in abutting relation with each other and for maintaining the central portions thereof in co-planar registry with each other, and clip means having projecting tongues extending through respective mating ones of said apertures and having a projecting leg arranged to engage the hook-engageable projections of a pair of said side flanges arranged in end-to-end relationship for maintaining said side flanges of adjacent channel members in said side-to-side interlocking relationship and in said end-to-end relationship.

6. A ceiling construction of the type which is suspended from a primary ceiling member, comprising a plurality of elongated channel members of uniform cross section disposed in side-to-side abutting relationship and in end-to-end relationship, each of said channel members having a horizontal central portion lying in the plane of the exposed surface area of said ceiling and having upwardly extending side flanges at each side of said central portion, said side flanges having a plurality of apertures therein and having inwardly directed hook-engageable projections at the upper ends thereof, said central portion having an upwardly disposed projection at one side thereof extending beyond the corresponding side flange at said one side at an angle with respect to said plane and having an upwardly disposed notch adjacent the other side thereof located inwardly of the corresponding side flange at said other side, said upwardly disposed projection being complemental to and in engagement with a portion of the notch of the adjacent channel member for detachably interlocking corresponding side flanges of said adjacent channel members in abutting relation with each other and for maintaining the central portions thereof in co-planar registry with each other, and an elongated clip having two tongues and an upper formation thereon for maintaining the side flanges of said channel members in said side-to-side abutting relationship and in said end-to-end relationship, one of said tongues extending through mating apertures in a first pair of side flanges of said channel members arranged in side-to-side relationship with each other and the other of said tongues extending through mating apertures in a second pair of side flanges of said channel members arranged in side-to-side relationship with each other and in end-to-end relationship with said first pair of side flanges, said upper formation being complemental to and in engagement with the hook-engageable projections of two of said side flanges arranged in end-to-end relationship.

7. A ceiling construction of the type which is suspended from a series of primary ceiling members, cornprising a plurality of elongated channel members of uniform cross section disposed in side-to-side abutting relationship and in end-to-end relationship, each of said channel members having a horizontal central portion and upwardly extending side flanges at each side of said central portion, said side flanges having a plurality of apertures therein, each of the central portions of a first group of said channel members disposed in side-to-side and end-to-end relationship and the central portion of an additional channel member having an angularly upwardly disposed projection at one side thereof extending beyond the corresponding side flange at said one side and having an upwardly' disposed notch adjacent the other side thereof located inwardly of the corresponding side flange at said other side, each of the central portions of a second group of said channel members disposed in end-to-cnd relationship and in side-to-side relationship with said rst group having an angularly upwardly disposed projection at each side thereof extending beyond the corresponding side flange, said upwardly disposed projections being in detachable interlocking engagement with the notch of the adjacent channel member, said upwardly extending side flanges of each of said channel members having inwardly directed hook-engageable projections at thc upper ends thereof, a plurality of elongated hanger members affixed to and depending from said primary ceiling members, cach ol said hanger members having a hook-like formation adjacent the depending end thereof in engagement with one of said hook-engageable projections, a plurality of elongated clips for maintaining corresponding side flanges in said first and second groups of channel members in said side-to-side interlocking relationship and in said end-to-end relationship, each of said clips having two tongues and an upper formation thereon, one of said tongues extending through mating apertures in a first pair of side flanges of the channel members in said groups arranged in side-to-side relationship with each other and the other of said tongues extending through mating apertures .in a second pair of side flanges of the channel members in said groups arranged in side-to-side relationship with each other and in end-to-end relationship with said flrst pair of side flanges, said upper formation being complemental to and in engagement with the hook-engageable projections of two of the side flanges of said pairs arranged in end-to-end relationship, and a manually operable locking mechanism for releasably attaching one of said upwardly extending side flanges of said additional channel member to the upwardly extending side flange of the channel member adjacent thereto whereby the corresponding side of said additional channel member is supported by said adjacent channel member.

8. A ceiling construction of the type which is suspended from a series of overhead beams, each of said beams including at least one horizontal surface thereon, said construction comprising a plurality of elongated channel members of uniform cross section disposed in side-to-side abutting relationship and in end-to-end relationship, each of said channel members having a horizontal central portion and upwardly extending side flanges at each side of said central portion, said side flanges having a plurality of apertures therein, each of theu central portions of a first group of said channel members disposed in side-to-side and end-to-end relationship and the central portion of an additional channel member having an angularly upwardly disposed projection at one side thereof extending beyond the corresponding side flange at said one side and having an upwardly disposed notch of inverted V-shaped cross section adjacent the other side thereof located inwardly of the corresponding side flanee at said other side, each of the central portions of a seccond group of said channel members disposed in end-toend relationship and in side-to-side relationship with said firstgroup having an angularly upwardly disposed projection at each side thereof extending beyond the corresponding side flange, said upwardly disposed projections being in detachable interlocking engagement with the notch of the adjacent channel member, said upwardly extending side flanges of each of said channel members having inwardly directed hook-engageable projections at the upper ends thereof, a plurality of elongated clips for maintaining corresponding side flanges in said first and second groups of channel members in said side-to-side 13 interlocking relationship and in said endtoend relationship, each of said clips having two tongues and an upper formation thereon, one of said tongues extending through mating apertures in a first pair of side anges of the channel members in said groups arranged in side-to-sde relationship with each other and the other of said tongues extending through mating apertures in a second pair of side anges of the channel members in said groups arranged in side-to-side relationship with each other and in end-to-end relationship with said first pair of side anges, said upper formation being complemental to and in engagement with the hook-engageable projections of two of the side flanges of said pairs arranged in end-toend relationship, means including a slotted member on the exposed surface area of said additional channel member adjacent one of the upwardly extending side tlanges thereof and including a locking member rigidly affixed to said slotted member and extending from the unexposed surface of said additional channel member and in engagement with the hook-engageable projection of the side flange of the channel member adjacent said one side ange for maintaining said one side ange of said additional channel member in interlocking relation with the corresponding side flange of the channel member adjacent thereto and for detaching said corresponding side flanges to permit access to the unexposed area of said ceiling, and a plurality of elongated hanger members depending from said overhead beams, each of said hanger members having a hook-like end at one end thereof complemental to and in engagement with one of said hookertgageahlc projections and having a ap adjacent the other end thereof complemental to and in engagement with said horizontal surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 16,428 Russack Sept. 21, 1926 Re. 19,391 Venzie Dec. 4, 1934 2,097,781 Venzie Nov. 2, 1937 2,106,315 Brooks et al. Ian. 25, 1938 2,142,305 Davis Jan. 3, 1939 2,281,109 Olsen Apr. 28, 1942 2,409,212 Kautz Oct. 15, 1946 2,566,622 Millier Sept. 4, 1951 2,628,078 Krauss Feb. 10, 1953 2,689,630 Drury Sept. 21, 1954 2,725,127 Barrett et al Nov. 29, 1955 2,742,122 Stanley Apr. 17, 1956 2,787,813 Sylvan Apr. 9, 1957 2,877,878 Jantsch Mar. 17, 1959 2,895,180 Byssing July 21, 1959 2,994,113 Dail Aug. 1, 1961 

1. A CEILING CONSTRUCTION OF THE TYPE WHICH IS SUSPENDED FROM A PRIMARY CEILING MEMBER, COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED CHANNEL MEMBERS OF UNIFORM CROSS SECTION DISPOSED IN SIDE-TO-SIDE ABUTTING RELATIONSHIP, EACH OF SAID CHANNEL MEMBERS HAVING A HORIZONTAL CENTRAL PORTION AND UPWARDLY EXTENDING SIDE FLANGES AT EACH SIDE OF SAID CENTRAL PORTION, SAID SIDE FLANGES HAVING A PLURALITY OF APERTURES THEREIN AND HAVING INWARDLY DIRECTED HOOK-ENGAGEABLE PROJECTIONS AT THE UPPER ENDS THEREOF, SAID CENTRAL PORTION HAVING AN ANGULARLY UPWARDLY DISPOSED LEDGE AT ONE SIDE THEREOF EXTENDING OUTWARDLY BEYOND THE CORRESPONDING SIDE FLANGE AT SAID ONE SIDE AND HAVING AN UPWARDLY DISPOSED NOTCH ADJACENT THE OTHER SIDE THEREOF LOCATED INWARDLY OF THE CORRESPONDING SIDE FLANGE AT SAID OTHER SIDE, SAID UPWARDLY DISPOSED LEDGE BEING IN DETACHABLE INTERLOCKING CONTACT WITH THE NOTCH OF THE ADJACENT CHANNEL MEMBER, AND CLIP MEANS HAVING FIRST AND SECOND PORTIONS THEREOF EXTENDING THROUGH RESPECTIVE MATING ONES OF SAID APERTURES AND HAVING A THIRD PORTION THEREOF IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE HOOK-ENGAGEABLE PROJECTION OF ONE OF SAID CORRESPONDING SIDE FLANGES FOR MAINTAINING SIDE FLANGES OF ADJACENT CHANNEL MEMBERS IN SAID INTERLOCKING CONTACT. 